Electric switch



Dec. 11, 1951 H. s. WIGGINS 2,578,494

" ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed May 27, 1949 ,2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 I n veulor 50Harry Shaw Wiggins Dec 11, 1951 H. s. wxeems 2,578,494

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed May 2'7, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 I 71 ventor HarryShaw Wiggm$ f showing the 'sameas being- Patentecl Dec. 11, 1 951 STATESRATE-NT o FFl-"CE 7 2,578,434 sm'zcrmoswircn llarry Shaw'Wig gins, LongBeach, Calif. Application May27, 1949,. serial No. 95,714

1 Claim. (01.200453) This invention relates to new -and useiuliimprovements and structural refinements in-elec- -tric "switches, and theprincipal object of the invention is to greatly simplify theswitch struc-:ture".and thereby facilitate convenientuand ex- 5 :rpeditiousinstallation and servicing .thereof.

This object is achieved by combiningthe switch mechanism with theusualcoverplate with which :switches are usually-provided so thatthe'switch ;may be installed vin itshousing or box'by'simp'ly f mounting:the plate. in position.

, Animportant feature of the invention resides .in :the switch mechanismitself which. by employing resilient contactarms, is entirely silent ,inoperation.

Some of the:advantages oftheinventionzliein .itssimplicity as aforesaid,in its adaptability to be embodied in switches of various types andsizes, 1 and in its adaptability to economical manufac- "ture.

With the .abovel rnore importantobjects-and ?features in viewandsuch:othermbjectsand iea- :tures as may become apparent as thisspecification proceeds, :the invention. consists essentially of the.constructionandarrangement of partsas shown in theaccompanying drawings.in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the-invention, appliedto theswitchhousing or boxzinawall; 1

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the invention per se;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken. substantially in the planeaofthe.line'3--.3 iii-Figure 2 "Figure A is ,a groupperspectiveview'showing ,;a-pair.of contactzarms used in the invention;p ,Figurej is .a .crossesectional ;view similar to h IS n i ure2,':but.i1lustrating the inv ventionas embodied in athree-way switchrather than in a single pole switch illustrated; in Figures .1-14; v a

Figure 6 is a group perspective view of the 7 .contact arms used in theembodiment shown in 'fFi urefi; v s V Figure .7 ,is .a verticalcross-sectional view, similar .to that .shown .in Figures sZ and ;5, butillustratinsthe invention as'embQd'ied .in two,

combined, single pole switches; and

Figure '8 is a group perspective view of the contact .arms .used in theembodiment. shown in ..Referring. now to the. accompanying drawingsclusively, the. invention .consists vof a single pole electric? switchdesignated generally by the ref erence character It, this beingcombinedwith The cover plate. 12 is Thewcontacta arm .lacarries astationary contact point 24 at one end thereof, while its .re-:mainingendportion is provided with a transverse member 18'; one end ofwhich, in turn, is equippedwith an angulatedlug 26formed with zascrevzthreaded aperture :28 to receivea'terminalgscrew (notshown) wherebyacon'ductort30 emay'heelectrically connected to the arm l8,1as

willbeclearly apparent.

Therremainmg side or.--end portion: of the con- 'itact 'arm member l8'is equipped with an'angudated wingilterminating in, an angulated, sharp--edged;flange.34, the-member l8 ofthe arm l8 :being: mountedontheiblock-shaped protuberance M at one-:sideof'therrecess I6,.and-theflange 34 ibeing 'iernbedded in the :protuberance, whereby the entirearm -,l8.isfirmlyesecured imposition.

. The contact pointi24 on thearmlB ispadapted to be engaged .by'tacontact point36ronthe-af0re- :mentionedarm 20, the latter-also being.equipped 'ivithan angulated. lugE38 provided withza screwthreade'daperture 40 to. receive a terminalrscrew 2-42 wherebya second conductor44 .may be elec- .'tricallyconnectedzto the arm 20, asrshownin Figure 3.The arm 26 is mounted on the'pro- "'tuberance l4 at therelativelyopposite side of the recess 11-6 with respect to the location of the arm18, the arm 20 also being providedzwith -'a sharp-edged flange 46 whichis'embeddedainthe aprotuberance Hi to firmlysecure the arm 20 in"position.

I It is to be understood-that the arm '20, which ispreferably arcuatedas shown in Figures Z'and 4, is made irom resilientmaterial, theresiliency thereof being such that the contacts 24,15 arenormally-separated and the switch is open. However, the aforementionedactuating lever -22, -which is pivotally attached to the protuberance Mby means of -a='pin'48 and projects outwardly through aslot oropening 50with whichi'the plate I 2 is provided, extends also, into the recess. l6

Mandisformed with a cam-shapedhead-SZyas bestshownjn .Figure, 2.

.This head engages =,-the: adjacent surfacero'f :the arm. and. the.condetail, :more particularly to Figures. 1+4, 1111555 :1

figuration voftthev head such that when the lever 22 is in its depressedposition, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the contacts 24, 36 areseparated, as has been already explained. However, when the lever 22 ispressed upwardly as indicated at 54, the head 52 bears against thearcuate, convex, intermediate portion 56 of the arm 20 and presses thecontact 36 against the contact 24, thus closing the switch. It is to beparticularly noted that. by virtue of the resiliency of the arm 20, theclosing and opening of the switch is a silent operation, it being ofcourse understood that the cam-shaped head 52 of the lever 22 willretain the switch in its closed position until the lever is againdepressed to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In order to assure silent movement of the lever 22 itself, that is, toprevent the head 52 from impacting against the protuberance I4, a feltwasher, or the like, 58 may be interposed between the head 52 and thebase of the recess I6, which provision will also prevent foreign matterfrom entering the switch mechanism through the opening or slot 50.

If desired, a box-shaped enclosure 60 may be applied to the protuberanceI4 for the purpose of protecting the switch mechanism, this enclosurebeing frictionally held in position on the protuberance and beingprovided with suitable openings, one of which is illustrated at 62 inFigure 3, whereby the conductors 30, 44 may enter the enclosure forconnection to the terminals of the switch.

The switch assembly may be installed in a conventional housing or box 64provided in a wall 66 by simply mounting the cover plate I2 on thewallso that the switch mechanism is disposed in" the housing 64. To thisend, the cover plate H may be formed with a plurality of apertures 58 toreceive suitable screws, or the like, whereby mounting of the plate maybe'efiected.

Referring now to the accompanying Figures, 5 and 6, these illustrate amodified embodiment of the invention designated generally by thereference character I0 and involving a three-way switch, wherein thecover plate I2 is formed in-. tegrally with a protuberance I4, recessedas at 16, while a movable contact arm I8, similar to the aforementionedarm 20, is secured to the protuberance at one side of the recess.

However, the contact arm I8 is provided with two contact points 80, 82,these being disposed at the opposite sides of the arm and beingengageable with stationary contact points 84, 86, respectively, providedon respective contact arms 88, 90. j

The arms 88, 90 are also secured to the protuberance I4 but at therelatively opposite side of the recess 16 with respect to the locationof q the arm 18, the arms 88, 90 being mutually spaced and theprotuberance 14 being provided with a slot, or recess 92 in which thearm 90 may be accommodated, substantially as shown.

If desired, the arms I8, 88, and 90 may be equipped with sharp-edgedflanges similar to the aforementioned flanges 34, 46, but,alternatively,

the contact point 82 is normally urged in engagement with the stationarycontact point 86 when the actuating lever I00 is in the-position 4 shownin Figure 5. However, when the lever I00 is tripped, as shown at I2, thecontact points 82, 86 are separated, while the contact points 80, 84 arebrought together, as will be clearly understood. If desired, an arcuateleaf spring I04 may be mounted on the protuberance I4 by means of thescrew 94 which secures the arm 18 in position, the spring I04 pressingagainst the arm 18 so. as to normally maintain thepoints82, 86 incontact. in other words; the purpose of the spring I04 is to assist theresiliency of the arm I8 in keeping the points 82, 86 together.

Referring now to the accompanying Figures '7 and 8, these illustrate afurther modified embodiment of the invention designated generally by thereference character I I0, wherein the cover plate H2 .is provided with aprotuberance H4 formed with two spaced recesses I I6, H8, and an arm I20is secured intermediate its ends as at I22 to the protuberance H4between the recesses H6, H8.

One end portion of this arm is resilient and is provided with a contactpoint I24 which is engageable with a stationary contact point I26 on astationary arm I28 secured to the protuberance H4, as at I38, while theremaining end portion of the arm I20 is relatively non-resilient andcarries a contact point I32. The latter is engageable with a contactpoint I34 on a resilient arm I36 which is secured to the protuberance H4as at I38, and a pair of independently actuable levers I50, I42 areprovided on the plate H2, 1e lever I40 being engageable with theresilient end portion of the arm I20 which carries the point I24, whilethe lever I42 is engageable with the arm I36 carrying the point I34. Theresiliency of the arms I20, I36 is such that the points I24, I28 andI32, I34 are normally separated, but may be selectively and individuallyclosed by simply actuating the respective levers I40," I42, as will beclearly apparent. In this manner, electric'current delivered to theterminal I22 may flow selectively to either or both the terminals I30,I38, whereby the device performs the function of two combinedsingle-pole switches.

It is believed that the advantages and" use of the invention will bereadily apparent from the foregoing disclosure, and accordingly, furtherdescription thereof at this'point is deemed unnecessary.

Having described the invention, What is claimed as new is:

For use in electrical systems, an outlet box adapted to be positioned ina wall and having an open side, a wall plate of electrical insulatingmaterialclosing'the open side of the box and adapted to be secured to awell, said plate having an integral body projecting laterally from theplate which is received in the box, said body having a recess whichopens into the box, electric switch means in the recess operable fromthe side of the plate opposite said body comprising a fixed contactcarried by the body at one side of the recess and a movable contactcarried at the other side of the recessior engagement with the fixedcontactfmeans for yieldingly urging the contacts into engagement, saidplate having an opening therethrough communicating with the recess, alever extending through the opening and pivoted intermediate its ends tothe body, said movable contact having an arched surface normallydisposed in the path of the inner end of the lever whereby pivotalmovement of the lever in one direction separates the contacts, cam meansadjacentthe inner end of the lever associated with the movable contactto cause a snap action in the movement of the lever, combined means inthe recess preventing passage of foreign matter through the opening andalso limiting and cushioning pivotal movement of the lever, a protectivecover in the box embracing and frictionally retained on the body, saidbox and cover being spaced. and the cover having an aperturetherethrough permitting connection of an electrical conductor to theswitch means.

HARRY SHAW WIGGINS.

-R-EFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

Number 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Both Sept. 18, 1928 Watts May16, 1933 Williams Dec. 5, 1933 Despard May 28, 1935 Sambleson Mar. 9,1937 Graubner Mar. 28, 1939 Thirlwell Aug. 18, 1942 Shaw Mar. 23, 1943Bonanno Apr. 27, 1943 Stearns May 21, 1946 Hubbell Dec. 28, 1948 FOREIGNPATENTS Country Date Number France Jan. 22, 1929

